Martin Campbell's superhero movie The Green Lantern may be topping the box office but it isn't charming the critics. Perhaps that might explain the director's disparaging remarks about the most recent James Bond film.

Campbell himself has been credited with re-energising the franchise through 2006's Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig. That film's follow-up, 2008's Quantum of Solace, directed by Marc Forster, didn't capitalise on the momentum Campbell had built up.

"Oh, I thought it was lousy," Campbell said at a press conference for his new film. "I just thought the story was pretty uninteresting … I didn't think the action was related to the characters. I just thought overall it was a bit of a mess really."

Campbell does, however, express faith in Sam Mendes's upcoming Bond film, to be released next year. "I'm sure it'll be terrific."